Chapter 15
When Finn and the search party returned hours later, he reported that one of Rika's crutches had been found floating in the river and caught on some rocks.
"We kept searching further down river, but didn't find her," Finn told the people who gathered around the returning men. "We found tracks in the mud of the river bank, but they were not hers. Larger. A large man's. These were not the tracks of native moccasins, but rather those of a person likely from this village. Unless another ship from Europe has landed."
"Well, we know Rika is alive, son. Ayanna, Grace and I could sense that."
"I believe she is, too," Finn nodded. "But the tracks led into the forest and disappeared. Arne says he thinks the man picked Rika up and carried her. The shoe prints seemed deeper as they moved away from the river. We lost the light in the darkness of the trees. And the sun was low by then. The others decided that we come home. I wanted to spend the night out there and keep looking come dawn, but my own tracking skills aren't that good.
Finn was weary from the trek and from worry. He was relieved to know his wife was alive, but he feared for her safety in the hands of some other man. Esther made him eat some food since he had not eaten for most of the day. In the privacy of their home, she told him that Grace suggested the mystery man could be Nels, son of Arne.
"Nels? He went with the crew to the ships," Finn said, frowning.
"Yes, but Grace says he is in love with Rika. He's kept it a secret."
Finn envisioned the man in question. Nels was about twenty-six years old, tall and heavy with red hair and red beard. He was quiet, always willing to help others, but shy and easily embarrassed. His face could turn as red as his hair. Sometimes people teased him and called him "Red Bear."
"If he's the one, why did he leave the group working on the ships? He's a carpenter."
"Perhaps he didn't want to go to sea this time. He's already been there twice. He may have finished his work and headed home alone," Esther said. "Or he may have left for some other reason. He would not have known Rika was missing."
"If so, he ran into her by accident. If he loves her, he could see this as his chance to keep her for himself. Why did it have to be him, of all people?" Finn paced back and forth in anger. "He'll have to live in the forest or bring her home. If he has molested my wife, I'll kill him!"
"We don't know for certain it is him, son. We may be jumping to a conclusion here."
"I suppose it could be any man. Even one of the skraelings. But if Nels was returning and he did come across Rika …"
"What if she was injured again?" Esther asked. "If he came upon her, he would likely want to help her."
"He carried her deeper into the forest! If he was from here, he would come here."
"And he might do that yet. By a different route. We must wait."
"Mother, I don't want to wait. I want to go out at first light and hunt for my wife." In frustration, Finn walked off, heading toward the meadow in the moonlight just to work off his anger and worry.
Niklaus, who was in bed by then, but not asleep, whispered to his mother. "Is Rika in danger from Nels? I mean, is he likely to hurt her?"
"If he loves her, why would he hurt her, dear?" the mother asked, brushing blond hair from in front of his eyes.
"You know what I mean. Will he force her? I know men do that. I know some say it is wrong and some just laugh about it. I don't want anyone to hurt Rika."
"I will pray that she stays safe. Come with me by the fire and we will pray."
Niklaus got out of bed and went with his mother to a spot by the house's central fire where low flames flickered. He knew his mother had been brought up with a different religion. She had taught all her children about it, although they tended to believe more in the Norse gods and goddesses. Still, he thought that if his mother's God had power to protect Rika, then it was wise to say the prayers.
It was some time before Finn returned to the house. He was tired, but although he lay in his bed, he didn't think he would be able to sleep. Therefore, he was surprised to wake up to hear his mother whispering to Kol and Rebekah to keep quiet and let Finn sleep.
"I'm awake, Mother." He sat up on the edge of the bed.
"You were able to sleep. Good. Get some breakfast. I'm sure you are ready to go out looking for Rika."
"I have no appetite," he muttered, standing up and stretching.
"You can't tromp through the forest on an empty stomach. Come eat," his mother ordered.
"I've been trying to decide if I should take my sword and shield. I think just the axe and knife would do."
"You can travel faster without the extra weight," Esther nodded. She knew the men were used to carrying the weight of the bigger weapons and shields, but she hoped he was not intent on killing whoever had Rika.
Rika's uncle Anders came to speak to them. "We'll be ready to go searching again in a few minutes. We'll find whoever has her today, Finn."
"Mother says it may be Nels Arneson," Finn said.
Anders was as surprised as anyone and he asked why Nels' name had come up. It was Esther who explained. "We truly do not know it is he who has her. Please keep in mind that he has saved her life."
In a short while the group left the village. Three men went down along the river again, even though it was unlikely that the rescuer would come that way now. The rest went into the rolling land to the east of the village, much of it forested. The river by the village was a small one which joined a larger one about twenty miles away, a waterway that would later be called the James River.
There were trails though the woods, old ones used by animals and by the indigenous people, and newer ones trod by the settlers when hunting or cutting wood. Except for the treks to the ships, the Norsemen didn't venture further than the bigger river. The searchers knew how far downriver they had gone looking for Rika. She could not walk far on crutches, but she could have been washed downriver if she had fallen in. Based on what they had found the day before, they now assumed she had floated quite a way before the man had found her and carried her away from the waterway.
"If it is Nels or one of the other men from the crew, he should be coming along this route," Anders said to Finn as they moved quickly along the trail. Despite his old limp, he could move with speed. However, the speed of the group was set by old Snort, a thin hound dog who had a limp too. Snort was a tracking dog and had been very good at it in his prime, years past. He was now ten years old.
"He should have come home last night, but he didn't," Finn growled, knowing his wife had spent the night with her rescuer, who hopefully had not abused her. As they moved along, they watched for fresh tracks on the trail.
"He may have made a camp if Rika needed to rest," Anders said. "She could have other injuries than her ankle."
"I know that," Finn muttered. "I hope he has some food he can share with her."
"If she can eat. I'm sure he has some supplies. Returning from the ships takes days," Anders reminded the younger man.
"Don't say 'if she can eat.' "
"She could be unconscious, Finn," Anders said calmly. He didn't say she could have been bashed about as she had been carried downstream by the water. He knew Finn was aware of that possibility.
At some point they smelled smoke and worked to pinpoint where is was coming from. They used caution because the fire could belong to native people. Old Snort, weary by then, perked up and headed to the left into the woods. One of the men caught him by the collar as they neared a small camp fire. The large red-headed man at the fire heard their approach and turned to face them, a short sword in his hand.
"Nels, we're from the village!" Anders called. "We have been hunting for Rika. Is she with you?"
"Yes. Come," the big man called, watching the others approach through the trees.
Full of relief, Finn hurried forward as he saw Nels lower his weapon. Then he saw the girl lying on the ground near the campfire. He hurried to kneel by her and to call her name. She didn't answer or respond at all. However, he could see she was breathing and he could hear it. Probably she had breathed in some river water. That was not good. In addition, there were scrapes and bruises on her face and some dried blood in her blonde hair.
"Rika? Can you hear me, love?" he called softly, gently brushing her cheek. It was cold. Her hair was damp. He realized her clothing must be damp, but Nels' coat was over her, keeping in some warmth. He peeked under the coat and saw that she was naked at least to her waist.
"You took her clothes off! What else did you do?" Finn yelled at the red-headed man.
"She was soaking wet and chilled," Nels stated, blushing. "I took her clothes off and used my coat, as you can see. And she is getting heat from the fire."
Finn heard Anders ask Nels a personal question concerning Rika, and the big man denied having done anything improper to the girl.
"She hasn't talked to me except to mumble. And she cried out when I picked her up and carried her here. She has injuries."
"She's my wife," Finn told the man. "Was she in the river?" Then he thought that was a foolish question. Of course she had been in the river.
"She was on a sandbar. She was clinging to a floating log and it washed up at the bar. She was awake, but barely. She did say your name. She didn't say she was your wife."
"Well, she is. I'm glad you found her and rescued her. Thank you, Nels." He turned back to Rika and leaned close, gently kissing her cold forehead. "Rika, I love you."
A/N How badly is Rika injured? Is she going to survive? Readers, tell me what you think of this situation. Thanks.